Author: NBA Basketball News, Scores, Standings, Rumors, Fantasy Games

For much of the night, it felt like the San Antonio Spurs were simply trying to survive. Shots weren’t falling. The defense was a step slow. And the Los Angeles Clippers looked firmly in control, building a lead that swelled to 25 points and silencing the home crowd.

But basketball games, especially ones involving this young Spurs team, have a way of turning quickly.

What started as a frustrating night slowly transformed into one of the wildest comebacks of the season. By the final buzzer, the Spurs had erased that massive deficit and stunned the Clippers with a 116-112 victory Friday night, sending the crowd at the Frost Bank Center into a frenzy.

Early on, the Clippers dictated everything. Los Angeles carved up San Antonio’s defense with ease, knocking down open shots and controlling the pace. The Spurs struggled to find any offensive rhythm, missing open looks and committing turnovers that only fueled the Clippers’ transition attack. By the second quarter, the scoreboard told the story: a growing Clippers lead that eventually turned into a 20-point lead at halftime.

The Spurs looked flat. The Clippers looked comfortable as the third quarter began and Los Angeles’ lead swelled to 25 points.

And yet, the game was far from over.

“We weren’t at our best,” Spurs Head Coach Mitch Johnson said. “You probably would have not ever booked that or stamped out for your perfect execution in that moment. And sometimes you just need the wherewithal and the fight and that thing in there to finish the job.”

The shift began quietly. San Antonio came out of the locker room with renewed energy, pushing the tempo and attacking the rim. The biggest jolt came from Julian Champagnie, who suddenly caught fire. Champagnie buried jumpers, attacked the basket, and delivered a flurry of points that quickly chipped away at the deficit. Possession by possession, the Spurs clawed back.

“I always say this, and we always say it, and I don’t want the fans or anybody to think that we say this because we have to, because we don’t, but I genuinely think that we have the best fans in the NBA,” said Champagnie, who credited the fans with fueling their comeback.

The crowd, once restless, began to believe. By the end of the third quarter, the once massive Clippers lead had shrunk dramatically down to 11 points, and the building was alive again. With momentum fully on their side, the Spurs turned to their star. Victor Wembanyama controlled the game in the fourth quarter, impacting nearly every possession. He altered shots at the rim, grabbed key rebounds, and delivered timely scoring when San Antonio needed it most.

Then came the moment that sealed it.

With the game hanging in the balance, Wembanyama slipped away on the break, took a pass from De’Aaron Fox, and hammered home a dunk that pushed the Spurs ahead in the closing seconds. The arena erupted as San Antonio completed the improbable comeback.

“The best thing that I see is that nobody gives up on anything or anybody,” Wembanyama said. “Everybody gets everybody’s back. That’s why I have blind trust in these guys. I love them so much.”

The Clippers had one last chance, but the Spurs’ defense slammed the door shut. What began as a nightmare turned into a statement win. The Spurs didn’t just survive a rough start; they erased a 25-point deficit and outplayed a veteran Clippers team down the stretch. It was a performance fueled by resilience, grit, and the growing confidence of a young roster learning how to close games.

“That was one of the best games of my basketball life,” Wembanyama said. “That was the best 30 hours of basketball in my life.”

For the fans inside the arena, it was a night that felt impossible just a few hours earlier.

For the Spurs, it was proof that no deficit is too big — and no game is truly out of reach.

Game Notes

• Carter Bryant may have just secured himself a spot in the rotation in the NBA Playoffs. The box score may show just five points, but his impact on both ends showed how valuable he is. He had a huge block in the third quarter and an alley oop slam that fueled the fans and pumped up his team.
  “I give him a lot of credit tonight. I don’t think we win this game without him,” Champagnie said of the rookie.
• This might make me very unpopular, but can we stop booing Kawhi Leonard? It’s been eight years. Yes, I understand what he did hurt, and it’s the reason for the rebuild. But he’s also a reason why the Spurs are in the position they are in now. If he did not leave, the Spurs don’t get Wemby, and who knows what today would look like. Just food for thought.
• Mitch Johnson’s decision to go small in the third quarter was scary, but it worked. It shows when the Spurs are on fire, nothing is impossible. In that moment, speed, pace, and defense mattered. He forced Brook Lopez to beat them, and the plan worked.
• Fans may give De’Aaron Fox crap for what they feel isn’t “living up to his contract” but his fourth quarter proves why the Spurs brought him over in a trade last season. He scored 10 of his 19 points in the final frame, six assists and no turnovers.
  “He took over the game in terms of how he was managing and dictating,” Johnson said.

BOSTON — One day before Jayson Tatum made his season debut, he opted to address his Celtics teammates and coaches. Before he could return to the floor after 298 days sidelined, he wanted to express his gratitude to everyone who allowed him to get to the point where coming back was a possibility.

First, Tatum address his teammates, who held it down all season en route to the second seed in the Eastern Conference. Following his return game, Tatum said this year’s Celtics team was probably the most fun team to watch around the league — and that watching them from the sidelines made him want to work harder in pursuit of a comeback.

“The joy and competitive nature that they displayed — I wanted to be a part of that,” Tatum said.

So, Tatum accompanied the Celtics for nearly every film session, practice, shootarond, and game — home or away. That allowed him to stay connected with the guys even through months of his being sidelined.

“Going through rehab and being injured is lonely,” Tatum said. “It’s not intentional. I couldn’t practice for a while, I couldn’t be in the game. When they were on the court, I was in the weight room, having to do my own thing. So you feel isolated, in a sense. But I just expressed that being around as much as possible, going to games, being on the plane, really made me feel like I was still very much a part of the team, and how thankful to the group for just being themselves.”

Jayson Tatum on his message of gratitude to the team yesterday:

“It was one, just being vulnerable, showing my appreciation to the team, of how they have played this season, how they motivated me every single day. The joy and competitive nature that they displayed, I wanted to… pic.twitter.com/qLWUZ8RpDR

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 7, 2026

In that same Thursday address, Tatum went out of his way to thank the coaching staff for going the extra mile throughout his recovery; the Celtics star would often be seen working with assistant coaches like Amile Jefferson and Tony Dobbins after practice, among others. And, before he began playing 5-on-5 with teammates, he oftentimes played with, and against, a slew of Celtics coaches.

“I was thankful to the coaches that extended their days a lot by helping me during rehab and on the court and pick-up games [for] my conditioning,” Tatum said. “I really just kind of telling everybody in the room that they all played a part in essentially helping me get to this moment.”

Joe Mazzulla himself brimmed with pride as he reflected on Tatum’s speech.

“He came on the other side of this better person,” Mazzulla said.

Jayson Tatum especially grateful for longtime trainer, Nick Sang

But, of all the gratitude he expressed, there was one person who he credited most for his recovery: his trainer, Nick Sang.

Sang, who has been working with Tatum and the Celtics since 2017, was in many ways the mastermind of Tatum’srecovery.

“He’s had the biggest role,” Tatum said. “For the last 10 months, I haven’t went 48 hours without seeing Nick. He was there, obviously, when I got injured. He’s been with me every step of the way. I’m very fortunate to have someone that is as selfless and dedicated as he is.”

Asked Jayson Tatum about the role Nick Sang has played in his recovery:

“He’s had the biggest role. For the last 10 months, I haven't went 48 hours without seeing Nick. He was there, obviously, when I got injured. He's been with me every step of the way. I'm very fortunate to… pic.twitter.com/66aNes407Y

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 7, 2026

On top of being Tatum’s dedicated trainer, Sang doubles one of Tatum’s closest friends.

“That’s a bonus,” Tatum said. “[He’s] somebody that I know cares about me as a person and is invested as much as anyone you know.”

Tatum’s rehab began almost immediately after he underwent surgery in May. As such, Sang accompanied Tatum to all his offseason travels, and dove deep into the Achilles tendon recovery world to ensure that Tatum’s recovery plan was as optimal as it could possibly be.

“I’ve seen Nick work countless hours to research and call specialists and dot every I, cross every T, to make sure we were doing the right things, and make sure we didn’t skip any steps,” Tatum said. “Held me accountable every single day, pushed me when I didn’t necessarily want to be there, or when I doubted myself.”

Deuce is back, too

Jayson Tatum takes his usual place for pregame stretches with Nick Sang pic.twitter.com/dnr9m2EN16

— Noa Dalzell 🏀 (@NoaDalzell) March 6, 2026

In his first game back in nearly 10 months, he talled 15 points, 12 rebounds, and 7 assists en route to a 120-100 victory over the Dallas Mavericks. The Celtics outscored the Mavs by 20 points in his 27 minutes on the floor.

And, while Tatum’s recovery journey doesn’t end here — he made clear of that — taking the TD Garden parquet was a critical step he’s long been dreaming of. And, he credits Sang for helping him get there.

“I can never say thank you enough to him,” Tatum said. “He’s been with me every single day since I got injured. He’s a big reason why I was able to recover as fast as I did and make it to this point. It was on him. I can’t say enough good things about him, and I can’t thank him enough.”

Luka Doncic scored 44 points despite not playing the fourth quarter, and the Lakers defeated the struggling Indiana Pacers 128-117 on Friday night with LeBron James and Deandre Ayton out because of injury.

Doncic showcased his offensive wizardry, joining Kobe Bryant, Elgin Baylor and Jerry West as the only players in Lakers history to record at least 40 points in a season 10 times.

Doncic was 14 for 25 from the field, seven for 14 from three-point range and nine for 10 from the free-throw line. He also had nine rebounds and five assists.

Read more:Cal State Bakersfield basketball coach faces charges of pimping and possession of drugs and firearms

“I always want to be productive. But it’s just next-man-up mentality," Doncic said. "We have great guys on the bench. So, they help us win this game."

He had 22 points on seven-for-nine shooting in the first quarter, making all five of his three-pointers. It marked the fifth time in his career he scored at least 20 in the first quarter.

“I felt great,” Doncic said. “I felt like I had my legs working. But definitely needed to win this game, so we came out aggressive.”

The Lakers led 64-51 at halftime and Doncic had 29 points.

Doncic ended the third quarter by banking in a three-pointer with 5.3 seconds left and then pointing to his teammates on the bench. The shot gave the Lakers a 19-point lead.

“He can make every shot,” coach JJ Redick said. “I mean, he can make a step-back, left-wing bank shot that line drives and barely goes above the rim. He can make floaters. He can make floaters going left, right. He’s a shot-maker, but he’s also a playmaker.”

Doncic also had a solid game on defense, recording three steals and two blocks.

“I know people are not going to talk about it,” Doncic said. “So, I’m just trying to do my job, trying to be more aggressive, be more engaged. So, just trying to do better defensively.”

Austin Reaves had 19 points and five assists before fouling out with 4:58 left. Luke Kennard had 15 points and Rui Hachimura scored 13 points as the Lakers (38-25) bounced back from a tough loss at Denver on Thursday.

Pascal Siakam led Indiana (15-48) with 26 points, five rebounds and three assists.

James did not play after sustaining a left elbow injury against the Nuggets. Redick said James was “still banged up" but said the Lakers think he will play Sunday against the New York Knicks.

Ayton (knee) and reserve center Maxi Kleber (back) also are day to day, Redick said.

Read more:LeBron James breaks another Kareem Abdul-Jabbar record, but hurts his elbow in loss

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This story originally appeared in Los Angeles Times.

As long as the Lakers have Luka Doncic on the court, they always have a chance of winning, regardless of the opponent.

And regardless of the circumstances.

The Lakers’ 128-117 Friday night win over the Pacers at Crypto.com Arena, which was the second night of a back-to-back and witnessed star forward LeBron James and starting center Deandre Ayton watching from the bench in street clothes, was a quick reminder.

Doncic, who entered Friday leading the league in first-quarter scoring (11.5 points), got off to one of his signature hot starts, scoring 22 points in the first quarter to give the Lakers an early advantage they didn’t relinquish.

“Some ridiculous shot-making,” coach JJ Redick said. “And a lot of ridiculous shotmaking against a lot of really good defenders.”

Friday marked Doncic’s league-leading fifth 20-point first quarter outing of the season, which is the most by any player in the play-by-play era (1996-97), according to ESPN.

“When you see a guy like him kind of getting to his spots, hitting his shots, it definitely just brings a different level to our group,” Luke Kennard said of Doncic. “Credit to him. Tough back-to-back. He played really well, gave us a chance to win in Denver. Got in late. He still came out and did what he does, and it got me ready to play. I know everybody else kind of fed into that, and he definitely set the tone for us.”

Already the league’s scorer, Doncic finished with 44 points on 14-of-25 shooting, including 7 of 14 on 3s, to go with nine rebounds and five assists in the 32 minutes he played in the first three quarters.

Doncic closed out the third by banking in a 29-footer over Quenton Jackson, giving the Lakers a 99-80 entering the final frame.

“I had my legs,” Doncic said. :They were working. But we definitely needed to win this game so we came out aggressive and made a statement.”

Austin Reaves (19 points, five assists) and Kennard (15 points, seven rebounds off of the bench) picked up the slack in the fourth so Doncic didn’t have to play in the final quarter. 

Reaves picked up his sixth foul in the fourth, just the second time in his career he’s fouled out of a game. 

What it means

Just one day after losing ground in the Western Conference standings with Thursday’s loss in Denver, the Lakers made up for it by beating the Pacers.

The Lakers, who improved to 38-25 on the season and are sitting at No. 6 in the West, moved to half a game behind the No. 5 Nuggets.  

Turning point

When Doncic hit a catch-and-shoot 3 at the 7:48 mark in the first quarter.

Doncic’s second 3 of the game started a personal 6-0 run the Lakers needed to prevent themselves from having another slow start. 

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The 27-year-old Slovenian guard scored 13 of the Lakers’ final 15 points of the first to give them a 35-27 lead going into the second. 

MVP: Luka Doncic

Friday was Doncic’s 10th 40-point game of the season.

Doncic broke a tie with Timberwolves star guard Anthony Edwards for the most 40-point games this season. 

Stat of the game: 12

Friday was Doncic’s 12th 40-point game as a Laker, passing Gail Goodrich (11) for the ninth-most in franchise history, according to the team.

Doncic is the fourth player in franchise history to record 10 or more 40-point games in a season, joining Kobe Bryant (four times), Elgin Baylor (three) and Jerry West (three).

Up next

The Lakers’ homestand will continue when they host the Knicks on Sunday at Crypto.com Arena. 

The Knicks have won 15 of their last 20 games, including a blowout win over the Nuggets in Denver on Friday. 

The Los Angeles Clippers didn’t just lose Thursday night. They unraveled.

What began as a comfortable night — Los Angeles once led by 25 points — ended in one of the strangest collapses of the season, punctuated by a stunning mental error from veteran guard Nicolas Batum.

With 16 seconds remaining and the San Antonio Spurs holding a 113–112 lead, Clippers coach Tyronn Lue inserted Batum into the game to inbound the ball. Batum found Brook Lopez at the top of the key, and Lopez quickly returned the pass.

There was one glaring problem.

Batum never stepped onto the court.

Still standing out of bounds, he caught the ball and was immediately whistled for a turnover — erasing the Clippers’ chance at a game-winning shot and forcing them to foul.

how do you make a mistake like this with the game on the line pic.twitter.com/uiHNmqlJGq

— Automatic (@automaticnba) March 7, 2026

The Spurs nearly gave the game back. Julian Champagnie missed two free throws, but San Antonio grabbed the offensive rebound. Rookie Stephon Castle later split a pair, the Spurs secured another offensive rebound, and a quick layup sealed the comeback.

For Batum, an 18-year veteran, it was a moment that will linger — a single step forgotten that turned a comeback opportunity into a collapse.

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After the game, fans trolled Batum on social media.

Batum and Lopez pic.twitter.com/p4B2li4e1U

— KATWrld (@kat_wrld) March 7, 2026

WHAT WAS BATUM THINKING?!?!

Spurs complete the 25 point comeback!

One of the worst collapses I’ve ever seen from the Clippers to end the game
pic.twitter.com/V6NKzPvNt1

— OddsJam Hoops (@OddsJamHoops) March 7, 2026

Before his toe injury, Knicks forward OG Anunoby was having one of the best seasons of his career, but he hasn't been the same since returning, until Friday.

In Denver, the old Anunoby showed up as he powered the Knicks to a dominating 142-103 win over the Nuggets in the first game of their West Coast road trip. Anunoby did it all; he led the team in scoring and helped defend one of the most potent offenses in the NBA. 

Here's Anunoby's statline against the Nuggets: 34 points (11 of 17 shooting, 6-for-11 from three) in 32 minutes, seven rebounds, five assists, four steals and one block. 

“He likes Denver. He likes altitude," Josh Hart said with a grin. "That's what he can do. You know, defensively guard one through five, and then offensively get the response and knock down shots. Get in the paint and just be a force.”

That force has been missing from this Knicks team since Anunoby went down to injury. He missed four games before returning on Feb. 19 against the Pistons. That night, Anunoby scored just eight points in 32 minutes. He had no rebounds or assists.

Since then, it hasn't been much better. Although Anunoby has eclipsed 20 points twice since -- not including Friday -- the "old" OG hadn't reared its head. But against former MVP Nikola Jokic and an elite Western Conference team, Anunoby gave the Knicks everything they needed to complete arguably their best game to date. 

"Before his toe injury, he was playing like this. I felt he was playing high-level basketball," head coach Mike Brown said of Anunoby. "I mean, it's just powerful. His decisions are quick, you know, he's touching the paint, and if you don't get to him, he's knocking the shot down. And then defensively, he's just on another level, man. If he keeps that up, that's Defensive Player of the Year-type stuff for sure.

"He's guarding point guards. I don't know how many times Jokic won MVP, but he's guarding him, and then he's guarding everybody in between. And it's just been phenomenal and fun to watch him because he can do a lot."

Jokic won MVP three times, and although he got his -- he scored 38 points in 31 minutes -- Anunoby and the Knicks defense did a great job to make it hard for the big man. 

In total, the Nuggets shot just 45 percent and were just 8-for-40 from three (20 percent). 

But offensively, that's where Anunoby's night was most like prior to the injury. After scoring just two points in the first -- the Knicks trailed by two after the first quarter -- he posted a team-high 12 points in the second to help New York go into halftime with a lead. He scored 14 more points in the third to put some distance between them and the Nuggets, and his two threes early in the fourth had Denver waving the white flag with nine minutes still remaining.

"OG had a whale of a game for us offensively. He was our [Defensive Player of the Game]," Brown said. "He was good." 

The Knicks now head to Los Angeles to take on the Lakers for the first of a back-to-back. New York will hope the old Anunoby is up for an encore.

After a frustrating loss against the Nuggets, the Lakers respond by beating the Pacers 128-117.

The game began with Jay Huff draining a 3-pointer for the Pacers. Rui Hachimura responded with a triple on the other end. Each team’s offense was strong, with both shooting 50%. Indiana was leading by two at the 6:32 mark. 

Huff was leading the Pacers with five points, and Luka Dončić had eight for the Lakers. 

LA started missing shots, which allowed Indiana to go up by four, before Luka helped the team wake up offensively with a 10-0 scoring run. He took over the quarter, draining all five of his shots from behind the arc, and had 22 points.

At the end of the first, the purple and gold were up by eight. The scoring run expanded to 18-6. 

He wasn't done yet … Luka finishes the first quarter with 22 points on 7 of 9 FG's and a perfect 5 for 5 from 3.

The Lakers lead 35-27 behind a Luka-led 18-4 burst. https://t.co/2vqDFz789v

— Mike Trudell (@LakersReporter) March 7, 2026

The second period began with Indiana scoring six in a row. Jake LaRavia scored on a floater in the paint, giving the Lakers their first field goal of the quarter. The Pacers called a timeout after Jarred Vanderbilt stole the ball and passed to a wide-open Jaxson Hayes for the dunk. 

Out of the break, Indiana missed, but stole the ball from the Lakers on the other end, and it led to a dunk from Quenton Jackson. 

Vanderbilt was having a monster rebounding game with seven, the most of any Laker in the half. LA’s defense was failing them as they continued to allow the Pacers plenty of easy dunks, and they had 28 points in the paint. 

These Pacers are unbelievably athletic. They fly to the rim and finish with authority. LA remains up 51-47 midway through the second quarter.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 7, 2026

Luka kicked it into high gear once again, scoring five points, pushing his point total to 27 for the half with five minutes left to go. Luke Kennard had eight off the bench and was a perfect two for two from behind the arc.

With 3:25 left until halftime, LA was up by five.

Luke Kennard is having another productive night. He has 8 points, 3 rebounds, and just got his first assist, passing the ball to Jaxson Hayes for an easy two. The Lakers are in front 56-49.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 7, 2026

Marcus Smart drained two corner threes in a row, helping extend Los Angeles’s lead to double figures. LA went into halftime on a 13-2 scoring run and a lead of 13. 

Pascal Siakam was left wide-open for an easy dunk to start the third period. Andrew Nembhard scored two buckets in a row for five points. He was up to 17 points for the Pacers. Hachimura drained his second triple of the night and was the second Laker in double figures with 11 points. 

At the 6:50 mark, LA was up by 10. 

The Lakers built up their lead to 14 on a 9-2 scoring run. Luka was filling up the stat sheet, netting two blocks in this quarter. Siakam was leading the Pacers with 22 points. Los Angeles continued to dominate, and Luka knocked down a 3-pointer that banked off the backboard towards the end of the period.

Going into the fourth, LA was up by 19. 

The Lakers lead the Pacers 99-80. Luka Dončić has 44 points. His Lakers high is 49.

— Edwin Garcia (@ECreates88) March 7, 2026

The Lakers opened the final frame with back-to-back turnovers that led to four straight points for Indiana. LA then retook control of the game, building a massive lead. Reaves also entered double figures and fouled out late in the quarter.  Los Angeles then emptied their bench at the 3:42 mark.

Key Player Stats

Luka scored 22 of his 44 points in the first quarter. He also finished with nine rebounds, five assists, three steals and two blocks. Reaves had 19 points with two rebounds and five assists. Hachimura pitched in with 13 points and three rebounds.

Smart notched 11 points with three rebounds and three assists. Hayes had nine points with four rebounds and two assists. Kennard ended with 15 points, seven rebounds and three assists. Vanderbilt grabbed eight rebounds and dished three dimes.

The Lakers’ next matchup will be against the New York Knicks on Sunday at 12:30 PM PT.

You can follow Karin on Twitter at @KarinAbcarians.

LAS VEGAS (AP) — Filip Gustavsson made 30 saves and the Minnesota Wild scored three goals in a 3:07 span in the second period in a 4-2 victory over the Vegas Golden Knights on Friday night.

Third in the Central Division, Minnesota improved to 3-2 since the Olympic break. Vegas is second in the Pacific Division.

Mats Zuccarello opened the second-period scoring spree at 5:18 on a wrist shot. Zach Bogosian followed with a slap shot at 8:07, and newcomer Michael McCarron had a tip-in at 8:25. Vladimir Tarasenko scored with 4:18 left in the third, with McCarron assisting in his Wild debut.

Pavel Dorofeyev and Mitch Marner had third-period goals for Vegas, and Akira Schmid stopped 20 shots. Dorofeyev scored his 30th of the season, ending Gustavsson's shutout bid with a power-play goal at 2:17.

Robby Fabbri and Bobby Brink also made their Wild debuts following trades. Minnesota also acquired Nick Foligno from Chicago at the trade deadline. He'll join younger brother Marcus with the Wild.

Nic Dowd and Cole Smith made their Vegas debuts. Dowd came over Friday from Washington. The Golden Knights placed forward Mark Stone on injured reserve Thursday because of an upper-body injury.

Up next

Wild: At Colorado on Sunday.

Golden Knights: Host Edmonton on Sunday night.

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AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

Jayson Tatum got off to a 0-for-6 start in his return from a torn Achilles.

But he then drilled his next five shots and finished with 15 points on 6-for-16 shooting with 12 rebounds and seven assists in the Celtics’ 120-100 win over the Mavericks on Friday.

Tatum, who was off the court for 298 days following the torn Achilles suffered at Madison Square Garden in Game 4 of the Knicks-Celtics Eastern Conference semifinals, scored his first points on a put-back dunk.

The jam came on a missed 3 from Payton Pritchard with 1:16 to go in the second quarter, where Tatum — one of the best rebounding forwards of this era — easily boxed out Rookie of the Year contender Cooper Flagg to position himself for the two-handed slam to give the Celtics a 52-51 lead shortly before halftime.

“This is a huge step. I’ve still got a long ways to go,” Tatum told reporters after the game.

Tatum joins the Celtics as the team moves to 42-21, maintaining the second spot in the Eastern Conference, temporarily holding off the Knicks, who won 142-103 over the Nuggets on Friday night, improving to 40-23.

Tatum started and was a plus-20 in his 27 minutes, logging the fourth-highest total on his team during his return.

“Nights and days I dreamed about this moment,” Tatum said, according to NBA.com. “It’s been 42 1/2 weeks since I played in an NBA game. Just trying catch up on the speed … but the game started slowing down.”

Jaylen Brown, who has carried much of the offensive mantle in Tatum’s absence, paced the team with 24 points, seven rebounds and seven assists.

Flagg was held to just 16 points on just 7-of-23 shooting, adding eight boards and six dimes in the Dallas loss.

Boston will play the Cavaliers in an afternoon tip-off Sunday at 1 p.m.

ANAHEIM, Calif. (AP) — Chris Kreider got the tying goal with 42 seconds left in regulation and Alex Killorn scored in the sixth round of the shootout, sending the Anaheim Ducks to a 6-5 victory over the Montreal Canadiens on Friday night.

Kreider matched his career best with a four-point night for the Ducks, who won for the seventh time in eight games despite blowing a two-goal lead in the third period. Cutter Gauthier, who also scored in the shootout, and Leo Carlsson had a goal and an assist apiece.

Anaheim improved to 8-0 in shootouts this season despite going just 2 for 6 against Montreal, with even Mason McTavish failing to score for the first time in six tries this season.

Radko Gudas and Jackson LaCombe also scored, and Lukas Dostal stopped 23 shots in a rough performance before he came up big in the shootout. Anaheim earned its 19th comeback victory, matching Montreal for the NHL lead.

Cole Caufield scored two of Montreal’s three goals in the third period and Lane Hutson had a goal and two assists. Samuel Montembeault made 28 saves for the Habs, who have lost four of six.

Gauthier got his 32nd goal just 33 seconds after the opening faceoff, giving him seven goals in five games since the Olympic break.

Nick Suzuki answered moments later, securing the fifth consecutive 20-goal season for Montreal's captain.

After Gudas got his first goal since Nov. 19, Carlsson added his 21st goal early in the third off a 2-on-1 pass from Kreider.

But Caufield got his 36th and 37th goals of the season with Alexandre Carrier's tying goal with 8:13 left in regulation sandwiched between them.

With the Ducks in desperation mode, Kreider skillfully redirected Jacob Trouba’s shot from the point for the 21st goal of his first season with Anaheim.

Olen Zellweger committed a tripping penalty in overtime, but Anaheim killed the 4-on-3 disadvantage.

The Ducks played without new defenseman John Carlson, who flew to the West Coast on Friday after a late-night trade ended his 17 seasons with Washington. Montreal stayed pat at the trade deadline.

Up next

Canadiens: At Los Angeles on Saturday.

Ducks: Host St. Louis on Sunday.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/NHL

The San Antonio Spurs escaped from the jaws of defeat with an epic comeback against the Los Angeles Clippers on the second night of a back-to-back. They also closed the distance further in the standings with the Oklahoma City Thunder (2.5).

A few artillery strikes uncorked the Spurs’ offense, and Devin Vassell and a few others kept the pressure on when Victor Wembanyama checked out. Yet they were mostly sloppy and the help defense was a step slow, surrendering unnecessary 3-pointers and cheap fouls.   

They subsequently had trouble running their offense at the start of the second quarter, allowing multiple pick-6s, which allowed Kawhi Leonard to find his rhythm. Wemby checked back in and despite making a few baskets, he was pressing. He was unable to close the distance and then it became a 20-point crater in Luke Kornet’s minutes going into halftime. 

The strategy in the third quarter was to feed Wemby and use him as a decoy. They later found something when De’Aaron Fox got free for a floater to cut the deficit to 19- points, forcing the Clippers to call a timeout. They kept chopping away and flipped the script by the time the fourth quarter started.

Wembanyama checked back in while they were down seven with nine minutes left and the snowball effect continued until Leonard got hot again. Then every time it seemed one like team was about to gain an edge, the other side came storming back or made a mistake. It took late heroics from Wemby, Fox, Carter Bryant and Julian Champagnie to get away.

Observations

• This was San Antonio’s first of three games with the Clippers this season and the first time seeing them without Ivica Zubac. LAC had a few key guys out, yet still had an older shooting presence in Brook Lopez. He had a hot start that lasted until the third quarter.
• The defense was stuck in quicksand much of the night, not pressuring drives enough and being slow to recover to the perimeter. Their performance the previous night against a top-tier team wasted lots of physical and mental energy. The Clippers have been good, and the Spurs should have been better prepared for them like a top-three team in the conference because of the tension that will forever linger between the fans and Leonard. Still, being able to erase a 25-point deficit says a lot about their talent and resiliency, especially the late part of the fourth where they took the lead with Wemby resting.
• The Spurs did not push the pace enough and saw too much of the Clippers’ half-court defense. Part of the problem was taking the ball up slowly and getting scored on too often, which makes it take longer to get across half-court. The Clippers had the fresher legs in the open court, outscoring them 21-12, but wasting this much energy was a reason their defense was weaker in the second half.
• Champagnie emerged in the third quarter, making four 3-pointers, including two and three freebies when Leonard was on the bench. He was a big reason why the Spurs didn’t fall apart in the non-Wemby minutes. The team even mixed in and out of a zone in that stretch, and it got stronger as the game went on. Bryant’s hustle was another key factor in a late 13-0 run.
• Luke Kornet is a fine backup because of his rim protection, but opponents sag off him making it harder for the others to get loose, and he lacks the foot speed to keep up outside of the lane. It might be worth a try to experiment with some Bryant as a small-ball five in situations that are not favorable for Kornet when Wemby rests. He has a limited offensive game as well, but he’s fast and strong enough. 
• Leonard had the perfect blend of power and finesse as bodies bounce off of him and then he gently rises for a jumper. Nonetheless, Stephon Castle got the most time guarding him 25.5 hours after spending lots of time on MVP candidate Cade Cunningham.

No. 20 Miami (Ohio) has finished a perfect regular season, and its athletic director believes it “should cement” the RedHawks as an NCAA Tournament team.

The last remaining undefeated team in men's college basketball capped off a 31-0 campaign with a wild overtime win against rival Ohio on Friday, March 6. Despite five technical fouls and 14 made 3-pointers from the Bobcats, the RedHawks didn't falter.

Down by one point with less than 30 seconds left in overtime, star guard Peter Suder drew a foul with 12 seconds left to get to the free throw line. Ohio had a chance to retake the lead in the final seconds, but was unable to get a basket. The RedHawks added a free throw and the Bobcats couldn't hit the last-second 3-pointer to seal a 110-108 win for the RedHawks.

With the victory, Miami is the fifth team this century to have a perfect regular season, last accomplished by Gonzaga in 2020-21. It also snapped a 14-game losing streak at Ohio, last winning at the Bobcats’ home arena in 2011.

The undefeated record has put the RedHawks at the center of an NCAA Tournament debate, focused on whether the mid-major team needs the automatic bid to get a spot in the big dance.

On the surface, they have the qualifications. A 31-0 record is hard to ignore, and the tournament selection committee has never done so. Since the tournament expanded in 1985, no team with more than 28 wins has ever missed out on March Madness, and a squad with less than four losses has always made it. Now, the most Miami can lose before Selection Sunday is one game.

It’s why athletic director David Sayler said the victory over the Bobcats virtually punches the RedHawks' ticket to the NCAA Tournament.

“An undefeated season, it has to matter, right?” Sayler told USA TODAY Sports. “Otherwise, why wouldn't we just play three days in (the MAC tournament) and the winner goes to the (NCAA) tournament and forget the regular season if you're not going to take an undefeated team?"

“It should cement it,” he added.

However, the argument for Miami's omission from the bracket is the quality of the resume. Miami doesn't have any Quad 1 games, just one Quad 2 victory and the majority of its wins come in the Quad 4 category, a 16-0 record. Three victories also came against non-Division I teams.

In KenPom, the RedHawks have a strength of schedule ranking of 285nd out of 365, and the nonconference rating is fifth-worst in Division I. Their rating of 88 puts them around teams that aren’t in the NCAA Tournament at-large conversation. It also hasn't helped the past three wins were all by one possession.

It’s led to pundits like former Auburn coach Bruce Pearl stating Miami needs the auto-bid or it shouldn’t be in the tournament, resulting in some frustration for those trying to celebrate a historic run.

“It's disappointing that more people across the country can't just enjoy a good story,” Sayler said. “They're on the verge of a historic thing here, and all people try to do is tear them down.”

He pointed to two reasons why people have been trying to discount the program: “Expert” bias toward power conference schools and that fans “can’t sit back and acknowledge” what’s happening, instead making excuses for their teams while belittling others.

“That's why I've been quoting Yoda sometimes, because we're fighting the evil empire here,” Sayler said. “It's inevitability. These forces are out there that are against you, and you're trying to carve a path.”

Still without a loss, Miami is eager to prove its worth. While there’s so much conversation on qualifying for the field of 68, coach Travis Steele has already said the second week of the tournament – the Sweet 16 and Elite Eight – is where the RedHawks want to be. 

Sayler supports the idea, and likes his team’s chances of getting there. There's still the MAC tournament, which kicks off the quarterfinals on Thursday, March 12 with the championship game two days later. The RedHawks will be the No. 1 seed, and there's stiff competition challenging to secure the automatic March Madness spot, including defending conference champion Akron.

But it shouldn't stop the historic RedHawks from dancing.

“We're not a fluky story,” Sayler said.

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Miami Ohio perfect season 'should cement' NCAA Tournament spot

DENVER — There’s something about playing a mile high that suits OG Anunoby. 

After dropping a career-best 40 points last season in Denver, the surging two-way forward again carved up the Nuggets on Friday at Ball Arena, dropping an efficient 34 as the Knicks started their West Coast swing with a blowout 142-103 win. 

It was the Nuggets’ worst home loss since Michael Jordan’s Bulls beat them in 1998. 

“I just think [Anunoby] likes Denver, he likes the altitude,” Josh Hart said. “That’s what he can do, defensively guard one through five, and obviously, offensively get to his spots, knock down shots, get in the paint and just be a force.” 

Anunoby shot a slick 11-for-17 and highlighted his evening with a breakaway double-pump reverse jam to end the third quarter. The move jump-tarted extended garbage time and sent Nuggets fans funneling very early to the exits, leaving the traveling Knicks faithful to dominate the arena chants. Anunoby also grabbed four steals and helped defend a frustrated Nikola Jokic, who scored 38 points but missed his first six 3-pointers. 

“Defensively, he’s on another level, man,” coach Mike Brown said. “If he keeps that up, that’s Defensive Player of the Year type stuff. For sure First Team All-Defense. He’s guarding point guards. He’s guarding the muli-time MVP Nikola Jokic. Then he’s guarding everybody in between.” 

Anunoby picked up the slack for an ice-cold Jalen Brunson, who only managed nine points on 3-for-13 shooting. Brunson did have 15 assists, however, representing his third straight game with double-digit dimes. Hart, playing with a sore back, added 18 points in 25 minutes. Karl-Anthony Towns (17 points, 13 rebounds) and Mitchell Robinson (13 points, five rebounds) both had strong nights alternating at center. 

The Nuggets, injury-riddled all season, were finally at full strength, returning Aaron Gordon after a 17-game absence because of a hamstring strain. His dunk after about two minutes sent the Denver crowd into an uproar. 

The environment felt ready for a Nuggets’ steamroll. 

But their good health was short-lived. Jamal Murray, the star point guard, came up limping late in the second quarter after accidentally stepping on the foot of Jokic. 

His left ankle turned over rather dramatically, leaving Murray unable to walk off the court without assistance. The air was removed from Denver’s sails. The Knicks, who trailed by nine in the first quarter, took off. 

They led by 13 at the break, then 25 after Anunoby’s athletic jam in the third quarter. Even DNP regular Pacôme Dadiet shined in garbage time with 11 points in just eight minutes. 

Anunoby has rediscovered his rhythm after his toenail avulsion, shooting 45 percent from deep in the last five games. He added seven rebounds and five assists Friday. 

So Anunoby and the Knicks had no problems dealing with the high altitude in Denver, although he claimed his consecutive stellar performances at Ball Center were just “a coincidence.” 

But Anunoby soared on that double-pump dunk like gravity wasn’t a problem. 

“I was thinking 360-degree [dunk], windmill,” Anunoby said. “Then I just thought I’ll do the double-pump.” 

Historically, the Knicks have had problems with the thin air, however. They recently went 16 years without a win in the Mile High City, a streak that mercifully ended during Brunson’s first season in 2022. 

New York also won last year in Denver — a 145-118 shootout led by Anunoby’s career night. 

Towns said he’s more acclimated after spending most of his career in the Western Conference. He still thinks it’s a factor, however. 

“Hell, yeah,” Towns said. 

While with Minnesota, Towns endured a 12-game losing streak against the Nuggets from 2018-21. They then split a pair of playoff series — in 2023 and 2024 — leaving Towns as an expert dealing with Jokic. 

“He’s really damn good. That’s pretty much it, pretty much all there is to it,” Towns said. “You just go out there and compete at a high level against one of the best.” 

But Anunoby was better than Jokic on Friday and everybody else on the court. 

The Knicks fans behind the basket understood, chanting, “OG, OG, OG” as the final buzzer neared. 

“Obviously, OG had a whale of a game for us,” Brown said.

EDMONTON, Alberta (AP) — Jackson Blake scored twice, K’Andre Miller had three assists and the Eastern Conference-leading Carolina Hurricanes beat the Edmonton Oilers 6-3 on Friday night for their seventh victory in eight games.

Nikolaj Ehlers added a goal and an assist, and Shayne Gostisbehere, Jordan Martinook and Jordan Staal also scored, and Frederik Andersen made 13 saves. The Hurricanes are 40-16-6 overall, going 16-2-3 in their last 21.

Zach Hyman scored twice for Edmonton, and Vasily Podkolzin added a goal. The Oilers have lost six of eight to fall to 30-25-8.

Tristan Jarry stopped 26 shots for Edmonton.

Ehlers has five goals in his last three games, hitting the 20-goal mark Friday for the ninth time in his 11 NHL campaigns.

Oilers star Connor McDavid picked up an assist to extend his points streak to six games.

Up next

Hurricanes: At Calgary on Saturday night.

Oilers: At Vegas on Sunday night.

___

AP NHL: https://apnews.com/hub/nhl

The Phoenix Suns needed a response after an abysmal performance against the Chicago Bulls on Thursday night. They delivered one, defeating the New Orleans Pelicans 118-116. It was a little more uncomfortable than it needed to be, as Phoenix allowed 35 points in the fourth quarter while scoring only 26. Still, the result is what matters. The Suns secured their 36th win of the season, matching their total from a year ago.

The Phoenix Suns have matched their win total from last season, doing so in 63 games played pic.twitter.com/CjeDAPGBwC

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) March 7, 2026

Devin Booker led the charge with 32 points, shooting 10-of-21 from the field and 5-of-12 from beyond the arc. Collin Gillespie added 12 points, 6 assists, and 6 rebounds. Jalen Green looked far more comfortable, scoring 25 points on 8-of-17 shooting and 3-of-9 from deep. Grayson Allen chipped in 12 points and 8 assists, and the Suns received positive minutes from rookies Khaman Maluach and Rasheer Fleming.

New Orleans pushed throughout the night, especially in the closing minutes. All five Pelicans starters finished in double figures. They scored 54 points in the paint, which was 20 more than Phoenix managed. The difference came from the perimeter. The Suns knocked down 23 three pointers, a number that ultimately carried them to the win.

The two point victory completed a season sweep of the Pelicans and moved Phoenix to within one and a half games of the Los Angeles Lakers for the sixth seed in the Western Conference.

Game Flow

First Half

The Suns’ offense opened the Chicago game looking completely inert. Possessions stalled, shots did not fall, and the rhythm never appeared. Against New Orleans, the opening stretch felt different.

Phoenix looked organized. The ball moved with purpose. Shots started dropping. They opened the game on a 7-0 run, a quick burst that set the tone early. New Orleans answered with a 7-0 run of its own, although the Suns still looked far more fluid than they did the night before.

Jalen Green set that tone early by applying pressure at the rim. He attacked downhill, forced the defense to react, and turned those drives into trips to the free throw line.

Good job by Green drawing fouls on back-to-back drives. Went for the poster with a clear runway and then held his guy on his hip there to get the bump.

— Kellan Olson (@KellanOlson) March 7, 2026

Green ended the first quarter with 8 points on 3-of-7 shooting. 

We once again saw first quarter minutes for Khaman Maluach. That continues to be part of his development curve. One thing he clearly needs to clean up is his movement on screens. He was called for an offensive foul when he shifted during a pick, and that marks the second time in two games where it has happened. That is the kind of detail young bigs learn over time, understanding when to hold position and when to release.

The offense began to wane as the quarter drew to a close. The team shot 4-of-13 (30.8%) from beyond the arc and the bench unit certainly didn’t help as they came in and went 1-of-6. Thankfully, New Orleans shot under 40% as a team.

After one, the Suns trailed 29-26.

Phoenix put together a 10-2 run early in the second quarter, and Oso Ighodaro played a big role in that stretch on the offensive end. That element is key. Having someone who can attack the interior adds another dimension to the offense. It gives the Suns a pressure point near the rim instead of becoming a team that stands around the arc firing three pointers all night.

Love this empty corner action between Grayson Allen and Oso Ighodaro.

If Oso sets a good screen, at the right angle, it allows for a roll like this. From there, just attack with aggression: pic.twitter.com/VRpkBkX6Px

— Shane Young (@YoungNBA) March 7, 2026

Phoenix pushed the lead to five early in the quarter, although New Orleans answered midway through the period with a 7-0 run. That stretch arrived when the ball began sticking in Jalen Green’s hands, and the rhythm of the offense slowed down.

Green still produced in the quarter. He scored 10 points in the quarter, putting him at 18 for the half. He finished the period 2-of-6 from the field, both makes coming from beyond the arc, and he went 4-of-4 from the line.

Devin Booker eventually took more control of the offense, and the game began to settle for Phoenix. The Suns responded with an 8-0 run, and the lead continued to grow. It reached 10 with under two minutes remaining in the half. Booker closed the first half with 7 points and 4 assists.

Zion Williamson added four points during the final minute of the half, part of his 15 first-half points, which trimmed the margin. Phoenix headed into the locker room with a six-point advantage. Oso Ighodaro had 10 points, and Royce O’Neale, who was questionable to play, had 6 rebounds.

The Suns outscored New Orleans 32-23 in the second quarter and carried a 58-52 lead into halftime.

OSO FIRST-HALF DUNK SHOW 🎬

10 PTS from the big man! pic.twitter.com/PRcCWBlROB

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 7, 2026

Second Half

Royce O’Neale opened the third quarter with a quick five points in the first couple of minutes. The burst forced Pelicans head coach James Borrego to call an early timeout as the Suns pushed their lead to nine.

The timeout helped settle New Orleans. They responded with a 10-2 run of their own and quickly chipped into the margin.

The Pelicans began attacking the rim with even more aggression during that stretch, and it created problems for Oso Ighodaro. With 5:52 left in the third quarter he picked up his fifth foul, which meant the Suns would lean on rookie Khaman Maluach for extended minutes.

Devin Booker steadied the group with a lineup that featured Grayson Allen alongside the young trio of Maluach, Ryan Dunn, and Rasheer Fleming. That unit started to find rhythm. Phoenix strung together an 11-0 run, capped by a Devin Booker three. Fleming knocked down a three during the run as well, giving the offense another spark.

Devin, Grayson, and the kids (Fleming, Dunn, and Maluach) with an 8-0 run

— John Voita, III (@DarthVoita) March 7, 2026

Rasheer Fleming knocked down another three. Khaman Maluach rejected an Yves Missi attempt at the rim. I was sitting there smiling like an idiot watching it unfold.

The third turned into the Devin Booker show. He poured in 18 points and caught absolute fire. Booker went 6-of-9 from the field in the period and 3-of-6 from beyond the arc. Every possession started to bend in Phoenix’s direction once he found that rhythm.

The Suns scored 34 points in the quarter, shooting 45.8% from the field and 6-of-17 from deep.

After three quarters, Phoenix held an 11 point lead, 92-81.

TOUGH FINISH

Book with 15 PTS so far in the third 😤 pic.twitter.com/iQePvD4r2C

— Phoenix Suns (@Suns) March 7, 2026

The fourth quarter opened with the teams trading buckets, and Jalen Green carrying much of the scoring load for Phoenix early in the period. He had five of the Suns’ first 10 points in the quarter.

He also delivered a nice pass to Khaman Maluach inside, which is something this team still needs to get more comfortable with. The Suns are not used to having a true interior presence. There were multiple possessions where Maluach had position near the rim and the entry pass never arrived, or the pass came late and off target.

Coverage lapse from New Orleans leads to Jalen Green seeing 3(!) to the ball.

Khaman Maluach with the dunk off the roll. Really good tempo re-established in this recent stretch of minutes. pic.twitter.com/Nogdaewh6E

— Stephen PridGeon-Garner 🏁 (@StephenPG3) March 7, 2026

Dejounte Murray, who is working his way back after the Achilles injury that ended his season last year, kept probing the Suns defense throughout the fourth quarter. He stayed patient with the ball, poking and prodding until he found a seam. He kept New Orleans within striking distance as the clock passed four minutes left. Suns were up by 9.

The Pelicans had their chances. Shots were not falling, although they continued to extend possessions by grabbing offensive rebounds. As the quarter moved toward the final moments, the game tightened.

Dejounte Murray kept applying pressure, probing the defense and keeping New Orleans within striking distance. With 11.7 seconds left, Saddiq Bey stepped to the line and hit a pair of free throws, trimming the Suns lead to 114-113.

Grayson Allen answered on the other end. He calmly sank two free throws of his own with 9.8 seconds remaining, pushing the lead back to three. Phoenix then chose to foul Zion Williamson. Only 1.2 seconds came off the clock in the process. Williamson missed the first free throw, then knocked down the second.

The Pelicans then fouled Devin Booker. The foul game is always a thrill, right. One minute on the clock somehow turns into twenty.

Booker stepped to the line and knocked down both free throws, pushing the lead to four with 7.8 seconds remaining. Herb Jones answered quickly with a bucket to keep the pressure on. New Orleans nearly stole the ensuing inbound pass, although Phoenix managed to secure it and close the door.

The Suns held on and secured their 36th win of the season.

---

Up Next

The next opponent for Phoenix is one of the best stories in the NBA this season, the Charlotte Hornets. Charlotte has been on an absolute heater lately. They may have dropped a game tonight against the Miami Heat, although that loss came after a six game winning streak that had people around the league starting to pay attention. That team is playing with confidence right now, and they are going to arrive in Phoenix believing they can keep that momentum rolling.

See you Sunday.